PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +60.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+118.2% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8.3 MB).
✅Costs $443 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Delivers 449.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 20.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2133, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Xeon W-2133

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,000 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($617 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.

Core i5-12400F

2022

Xeon W-2133

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +60.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+118.2% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8.3 MB).
✅Costs $443 less on MSRP ($174 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Delivers 449.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 112.3 vs 20.4 PassMark/$ ($174 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 140W, a 75W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 6 cores / 12 threads, plus 48 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅140% more PCIe lanes (48 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅AVX-512 support for select workstation, AI, and scientific workloads.

Trade-offs

❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Xeon W-2133, which brings 6 cores / 12 threads and 48 PCIe lanes.
❌No AVX-512 support for niche heavy compute workloads where it can matter.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-12400F across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (6,000 vs 12,380).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 18 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.4 vs 112.3 PassMark/$ ($617 MSRP vs $174 MSRP).
❌115.4% higher power demand at 140W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-12400F better than Xeon W-2133?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Xeon W-2133 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-12400F is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-12400F is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 60.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-12400F is the better fit. You are getting 106.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 118.2% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8.3 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-12400F is the smarter buy today. Core i5-12400F is $443 cheaper on MSRP at $174 MSRP versus $617 MSRP, and it gives you a 60.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 449.0% better value on MSRP (112.3 vs 20.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-12400F is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2017), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, 118.2% larger total L3 cache (18 MB vs 8.3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-12400F Benchmark Check

Xeon W-2133 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
1080p
low	183 FPS	193 FPS
medium	168 FPS	163 FPS
high	139 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	119 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	163 FPS
medium	132 FPS	135 FPS
high	106 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	89 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	87 FPS	67 FPS
medium	81 FPS	59 FPS
high	64 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	36 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2133

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
1080p
low	471 FPS	214 FPS
medium	397 FPS	187 FPS
high	341 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	301 FPS	140 FPS
1440p
low	407 FPS	187 FPS
medium	351 FPS	162 FPS
high	309 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	265 FPS	126 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	160 FPS
medium	248 FPS	142 FPS
high	229 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	94 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2133

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
1080p
low	488 FPS	315 FPS
medium	488 FPS	315 FPS
high	488 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	315 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	315 FPS
medium	488 FPS	315 FPS
high	485 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	434 FPS	315 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	315 FPS
medium	389 FPS	315 FPS
high	337 FPS	311 FPS
ultra	274 FPS	251 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2133

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
1080p
low	488 FPS	315 FPS
medium	488 FPS	315 FPS
high	488 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	488 FPS	315 FPS
1440p
low	488 FPS	315 FPS
medium	488 FPS	315 FPS
high	488 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	473 FPS	315 FPS
4K
low	488 FPS	315 FPS
medium	450 FPS	315 FPS
high	391 FPS	315 FPS
ultra	330 FPS	315 FPS

Open Core i5-12400F Open Xeon W-2133

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-2133

Core i5-12400F

The Core i5-12400F is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 19,532 points. Launch price was $180.

Xeon W-2133

The Xeon W-2133 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 12,615 points. Launch price was $617.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i5-12400F and Xeon W-2133 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Core i5-12400F versus 3.9 GHz on the Xeon W-2133 — a 12% clock advantage for the Core i5-12400F (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i5-12400F uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Xeon W-2133 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-12400F scores 19,532 against the Xeon W-2133's 12,615 — a 43% lead for the Core i5-12400F. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 12,380 vs 6,000 (69.4% advantage for the Core i5-12400F). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,700 vs 1,292, a 27.3% lead for the Core i5-12400F that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 657 vs 6,647 (164% advantage for the Xeon W-2133). L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core i5-12400F vs 8.25 MB (total) on the Xeon W-2133.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+13%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+44%
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)+118%	8.25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)+25%	1 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	19,532+55%	12,615
Cinebench R23 Multi	12,380+106%	6,000
Geekbench 6 Single	1,700+32%	1,292
Geekbench 6 Multi	657	6,647+912%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-12400F uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-2133 uses LGA2066 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200 on the Core i5-12400F versus DDR4-2666 on the Xeon W-2133 — the Core i5-12400F supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon W-2133 supports up to 512 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-12400F) vs 4 (Xeon W-2133). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-12400F) vs 48 (Xeon W-2133) — the Xeon W-2133 offers 28 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Core i5-12400F) and C422 (Xeon W-2133).

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
Socket	LGA1700	LGA2066
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200+25%	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	512 GB+300%
RAM Channels	2	4+100%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	48+140%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-12400F) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon W-2133). Primary use case: Core i5-12400F targets Gaming Performance/Value, Xeon W-2133 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i5-12400F rivals Ryzen 5 5600; Xeon W-2133 rivals Ryzen Threadripper 1900X.

Feature	Core i5-12400F	Xeon W-2133
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming Performance/Value	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-12400F launched at $174 MSRP, while the Xeon W-2133 debuted at $617. On MSRP ($174 vs $617), the Core i5-12400F is $443 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-12400F delivers 112.3 pts/$ vs 20.4 pts/$ for the Xeon W-2133 — making the Core i5-12400F the 138.4% better value option.